Eastern Michigan Athletics
MAC Announces Future Football Schedule Formats for 2024-26
1/25/2024 2:00:00 PM | Football
The new model will protect rivalries while facilitating a more even rotation of teams
Complete Schedule | MAC Composite (PDF) | Ticket Interest Form.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Mid-American Conference today, Jan. 25, announced league football opponents for the 2024-26 football seasons. The new scheduling model eliminates the MAC East and West Divisions. The top two teams based on conference winning percentage will compete in the MAC Football Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.
This new model will allow for each team to face all 11 conference opponents home and away at least once during a three-year cycle. Additionally, the new format will incorporate protected opponents based on geographic location and rivalries.
The MAC's full 2024 schedule will be released at the end of February. Additionally, ticket and promotional information for the upcoming season will be announced at a later date. Fans can show their interest in suites, loges, chairback seats, season tickets, and group tickets by clicking here.
This season, Eastern Michigan will host Buffalo, Central Michigan, Miami, and Toledo, while traveling to Akron, Kent State, Ohio, Western Michigan. EMU's non-conference schedule includes trips to UMass, Aug. 31, and national runner-up Washington, Sept. 7, as well as home contests against Jacksonville State, Sept. 14, and Saint Francis (Pa.), Sept. 21.
In 2025, Bowling Green, Kent State, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan will visit Ypsilanti, while the Eagles will visit Ball State, Buffalo, Central Michigan, and Toledo. Eastern alternates non-conference home games, opening the year at Texas State, Aug. 30, before hosting LIU, Sept. 6. The Green and White then visit Kentucky, Sept. 13, and return home to square off against Louisiana, Sept. 20.
Akron, Ball State, Central Michigan, and Ohio will travel to Rynearson Stadium in 2026, while Eastern treks to Bowling Green, Miami, Northern Illinois, and Western Michigan. The non-conference slate includes home games against San Jose State, Sept. 5, and Lindenwood, Sept. 19, along with a visit to Michigan State, Sept. 12. A fourth non-conference game will be announced at a later date.
The anticipation for the fall is strong after another strong recruiting class was inked this off-season. In total, Eastern Michigan has added 38 scholarship student-athletes with 22 already enrolled in classes as EMU begins offseason workouts ahead of spring practice, which will start in March.
EMU currently holds the top transfer class in the MAC and 72nd nationally according to 247Sports. Meanwhile, the overall class ranks third in the MAC according to the recruiting service.
The 2023 EMU football team recorded numerous accomplishments throughout the season with one of the more notable coming at the end of the regular season with the Eagles earning a bowl berth for the third consecutive season for the first time in program history. Eastern faced five teams that earned bowl invitations during the season, including three of its four non-conference opponents.
Led by a strong defense and outstanding special teams, the Eagles finished the regular season ranked in the top 35 in several team categories, including seventh in fumbles recovered (11) and 11th in defending fourth down conversions (35.3 percent). The backbone of the defense was the dynamic duo of linebackers, who rank second (13.0 tackles per game) and 10th (10.5), respectively, on the national lists.
Special teams also were outstanding on the season. Punter Mitchell Tomasek (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne), the program's lone All-MAC First Team honoree in 2023, ranks 14th nationally in punting with an average of 45.7 yards per boot and was one of only three players nationally to record two punts of 70+ yards. Additionally, defensive back Josh McCarty (Troy, Mich./Orchard Lake St. Mary's) finished tied for second nationally for the most special teams tackles recorded.
2024
Home - Buffalo, Central Michigan, Miami, Toledo
Away - Akron, Kent State, Ohio, Western Michigan
2025
Home - Bowling Green, Kent State, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan
Away - Ball State, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Toledo
2026
Home - Akron, Ball State, Central Michigan, Ohio
Away - Bowling Green, Miami, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Mid-American Conference today, Jan. 25, announced league football opponents for the 2024-26 football seasons. The new scheduling model eliminates the MAC East and West Divisions. The top two teams based on conference winning percentage will compete in the MAC Football Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.
This new model will allow for each team to face all 11 conference opponents home and away at least once during a three-year cycle. Additionally, the new format will incorporate protected opponents based on geographic location and rivalries.
The MAC's full 2024 schedule will be released at the end of February. Additionally, ticket and promotional information for the upcoming season will be announced at a later date. Fans can show their interest in suites, loges, chairback seats, season tickets, and group tickets by clicking here.
This season, Eastern Michigan will host Buffalo, Central Michigan, Miami, and Toledo, while traveling to Akron, Kent State, Ohio, Western Michigan. EMU's non-conference schedule includes trips to UMass, Aug. 31, and national runner-up Washington, Sept. 7, as well as home contests against Jacksonville State, Sept. 14, and Saint Francis (Pa.), Sept. 21.
In 2025, Bowling Green, Kent State, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan will visit Ypsilanti, while the Eagles will visit Ball State, Buffalo, Central Michigan, and Toledo. Eastern alternates non-conference home games, opening the year at Texas State, Aug. 30, before hosting LIU, Sept. 6. The Green and White then visit Kentucky, Sept. 13, and return home to square off against Louisiana, Sept. 20.
Akron, Ball State, Central Michigan, and Ohio will travel to Rynearson Stadium in 2026, while Eastern treks to Bowling Green, Miami, Northern Illinois, and Western Michigan. The non-conference slate includes home games against San Jose State, Sept. 5, and Lindenwood, Sept. 19, along with a visit to Michigan State, Sept. 12. A fourth non-conference game will be announced at a later date.
The anticipation for the fall is strong after another strong recruiting class was inked this off-season. In total, Eastern Michigan has added 38 scholarship student-athletes with 22 already enrolled in classes as EMU begins offseason workouts ahead of spring practice, which will start in March.
EMU currently holds the top transfer class in the MAC and 72nd nationally according to 247Sports. Meanwhile, the overall class ranks third in the MAC according to the recruiting service.
The 2023 EMU football team recorded numerous accomplishments throughout the season with one of the more notable coming at the end of the regular season with the Eagles earning a bowl berth for the third consecutive season for the first time in program history. Eastern faced five teams that earned bowl invitations during the season, including three of its four non-conference opponents.
Led by a strong defense and outstanding special teams, the Eagles finished the regular season ranked in the top 35 in several team categories, including seventh in fumbles recovered (11) and 11th in defending fourth down conversions (35.3 percent). The backbone of the defense was the dynamic duo of linebackers, who rank second (13.0 tackles per game) and 10th (10.5), respectively, on the national lists.
Special teams also were outstanding on the season. Punter Mitchell Tomasek (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne), the program's lone All-MAC First Team honoree in 2023, ranks 14th nationally in punting with an average of 45.7 yards per boot and was one of only three players nationally to record two punts of 70+ yards. Additionally, defensive back Josh McCarty (Troy, Mich./Orchard Lake St. Mary's) finished tied for second nationally for the most special teams tackles recorded.
2024
Home - Buffalo, Central Michigan, Miami, Toledo
Away - Akron, Kent State, Ohio, Western Michigan
2025
Home - Bowling Green, Kent State, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan
Away - Ball State, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Toledo
2026
Home - Akron, Ball State, Central Michigan, Ohio
Away - Bowling Green, Miami, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan
Players Mentioned
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